UNK Hosts Public Town Hall Meeting On Pandemic Influenza Awareness

The 1918 influenza pandemic killed approximately 600,000 people in the U.S. and 40 million worldwide. In Central Nebraska, Ravenna and Gibbon were particularly hard hit with many deaths. Schools opened and closed as waves of the influenza occurred. Quarantine signs were posted outside of towns.
     Area schools, communities and individuals are making preparations in case there would be a new influenza pandemic. As part of that preparation, the University of Nebraska at Kearney will host a town hall meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 7, with registration starting at 5:15 p.m. The program will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Ponderosa Rooms A and B of the Nebraskan Student Union.
     In cooperation with the Two Rivers Public Health Department, the event will detail how individuals and groups can prepare for possible infections, and answer questions about what UNK, the City of Kearney and others are doing to prepare.
     The event will also premier an educational DVD made by UNK and Two Rivers that describes how an influenza pandemic might occur and what the prevention methods are.
     Nebraska Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy will speak at the town hall, as will Dr. Joann Shaefer, chief medical officer for the State of Nebraska.